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Early Childhood Mobile Unit

In response to the county-wide Early Childhood Initiative, United Way has collaborated with other local non-profits to create an Early Childhood Education Mobile Unit to deliver educational and family support resources to families with young children living in remote and under-served areas of Transylvania County.

The Situation:

Approximately 1000 of the 1500 children from birth to age 5 in Transyslvania County are un-served or under-served by early childhood education resources.

Demand for Early Childhood Education programs and resources exceeds the capacity of local facilities.

Research shows that high quality early education:

Reduces academic achievement gaps

Reduces the need for costly remedial services

Increases employment rates, and

Lowers rates of incarceration.

The Response:

An Early Childhood Education Mobile Unit drives resources to families in remote and under-served areas of the county.

because all children in Transylvania County deserve to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

(l-r) Erin Drew, Executive Director, and Susie Taylor, Treasurer, with The Family Place of Transylvania County, and Terry Decker, Board Chair, and Steve Pulliam, CEO, for United Way of Transylvania County, celebrate the recent purchase of the Community Playgroups van.

(l-r) Judy Nebrig, Board President for El Centro, and Erin Drew, Executive Director of The Family Place of Transylvania County demonstrate some of the supplies stocked in the Community Playgroups Mobile Unit for Early Childhood Education.

United Way Receives Grant for Early Childhood Mobile Unit

On August 28, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina awarded a onetime grant for $47,120 for the Early Childhood Education Community Playgroups Mobile Resource Unit. Community Playgroups will bring early childhood education programs and resources to families in remote and underserved areas of the county. Community Playgroups will assist families with preparing children birth to age six for success in kindergarten.

Many Transylvania County families face an array of challenges, including isolation, transportation, language, lack of information or understanding of early childhood development, access to services, and limited financial resources. According to Child Care Services as of January 2018, Transylvania County has 1,815 children 0-6. Of those children, only 331 are enrolled in a licensed childcare center or NC Pre-K and five are in licensed family childcare homes.

“Thanks to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s willingness to partner with United Way of Transylvania County, this very important piece of early childhood programming in our community is off to a great start,” said Steve Pulliam, CEO.

United Way of Transylvania County partner agencies The Family Place and El Centro will take lead roles in the collaborative program, ensuring that additional partners share the common vision of Community Playgroups building relationships with parents to promote educational, physical and emotional development of their young children. Community Playgroups will include bi-lingual services to provide outreach to children and families in the Latina community.

“We are small organizations with limited staff. The Family Place and El Centro both depend on United Way of Transylvania County to do fundraising, so we can focus on program delivery. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively with El Centro and other community organizations to provide Community Playgroups through the funding of United Way.” said Erin Drew, Executive Director of The Family Place of Transylvania County.

United Way of Transylvania County has purchased a van to deliver Community Playgroups staff and programming. The Community Playgroups mobile unit is already making appearances throughout the county, and should be serving the community by mid-October.

United Way of Transylvania County seeks additional targeted grants and individual donations to allow Community Playgroups to continue and expand its professional services in the county. For more information about how to donate to Community Playgroups or other United Way funded programs, contact United Way at 828-883-8822 or unitedwaytc2@comporium.net.

About The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina

The Community Foundation is a nonprofit serving eighteen counties in Western North Carolina. The Foundation is a permanent regional resource that facilitated $18 million in charitable giving last year. CFWNC inspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to enrich lives and communities in Western North Carolina. More information can be found at www.cfwnc.org.

About United Way of Transylvania County

United Way of Transylvania County (UWTC) empowers people to improve their lives. Goals are for all residents to achieve their full academic potential, maintain a financially stable household, and live a healthy lifestyle.

UWTC has a particular focus on early childhood education, and has established the Early Childhood Education Mobile Unit Fund to drive programs to families with young children in remote and underserved areas of the county.